"Third Force" Coalitions and School Desegregation: An Exploratory Application of Q Factor Analysis.

Redburn, F. Stevens; Cohen, Sylvan H.

After a brief description of third force coalitions and their goals, this research attempts to determine what areas of consensus unite such groups and what issues or opinions can potentially divide them. A Q factor analysis is employed to establish a methodology for identifying language that has appeal to various opinion groups. Respondents in this study were drawn from three groups: (1) the third force coalition in Youngstown; (2) teachers and administrators in the Youngstown schools; and (3) people not connected with the schools who, based on their ethnic and socioeconomic status, were assumed to be less favorable to school desegregation. Various statements that reflect a broad array of opinions were gathered over two years and then categorized under different perspectives. These categories were then factor analyzed to locate clusters of respondents with similar opinions. Findings indicate that there is significant agreement on enough points to suggest that a basis exists for coalitions. The three factors or opinion types identified may even be regarded as significant variants of a single viewpoint. On the other hand, there are important and potentially divisive differences among the three groups, especially at the more specific levels of "policy." (Author/EB)